Image processing device, correct answer data generation device, similar image search device, image processing method, and program

An image processing device comprising:

• a processor,
• wherein the processor is configured to execute:
• an image acquisition process of acquiring a first image in a first image space and a second image in a second image space different from the first image space, wherein the first image and the second image are images of a same patient;
• a first conversion process of converting the first image into an image in a third image space that is characterized by a region of interest, using a first converter;
• a second conversion process of converting the second image into an image in the third image space, using a second converter;
• and
• a first similarity calculation process of calculating a first similarity between the first image and the second image in the third image space,
• wherein
• the first converter converts the first image into a first anatomical region and a first disease region,
• the second converter converts the second image into a second anatomical region and a second disease region, and
• in the first similarity calculation process, the first similarity is calculated on the basis of a similarity between the first anatomical region and the second anatomical region and a similarity between the first disease region and the second disease region.

An image processing method using an image processing device including a processor, the image processing method comprising:

• causing the processor to execute:
• an image acquisition step of acquiring a first image in a first image space and a second image in a second image space different from the first image space, wherein the first image and the second image are images of a same patient;
• a first conversion step of converting the first image into an image in a third image space that is characterized by a region of interest, using a first converter;
• a second conversion step of converting the second image into an image in the third image space using a second converter;
• and
• a first similarity calculation step of calculating a first similarity between the first image and the second image in the third image space,
• wherein
• the first converter converts the first image into a first shape feature and a first texture feature,
• the second converter converts the second image into a second shape feature and a second texture feature, and
• in the first similarity calculation step, the first similarity is calculated on the basis of a similarity between the first shape feature and the second shape feature and a similarity between the first texture feature and the second texture feature.

An image processing method using an image processing device including a processor, the image processing method comprising:

• causing the processor to execute:
• an image acquisition step of acquiring a first image in a first image space and a second image in a second image space different from the first image space, wherein the first image and the second image are images of a same patient;
• a first conversion step of converting the first image into an image in a third image space that is characterized by a region of interest, using a first converter;
• a second conversion step of converting the second image into an image in the third image space using a second converter;
• and
• a first similarity calculation step of calculating a first similarity between the first image and the second image in the third image space, wherein
• the first converter converts the first image into a first anatomical region and a first disease region,
• the second converter converts the second image into a second anatomical region and a second disease region, and
• in the first similarity calculation step, the first similarity is calculated on the basis of a similarity between the first anatomical region and the second anatomical region and a similarity between the first disease region and the second disease region.